Native war veterans may be entitled to special compensation

Ken Johnston

Many men served their country during WW II and returned home where they were treated as heroes.
With the hero’s welcome they also received many benefits such as free land. However, soldiers of First Nations decent that returned home and settled on a reserve did not receive many of those benefits.
To compensate those veterans, $39 million has been set aside by the federal government. Rainy River Legion Service Officer Joe Kaliska saw this offer in a recent issue of Salute, a national Veterans Affairs publication.
Right away Joe knew of at least one local veteran living on reserve in the Morson area that would qualify. Joe has ordered the application forms and plans to help that individual apply for the compensation, which could amount to about $20,000 per veteran.
To qualify a First Nations veteran must have completed at least 30 days of active service in the Canadian Forces during the First World War, WW II or the Korean War. They must have been eligible to receive certain benefits such as job or skills training, education or financial support from the Government of Canada upon their return and must have returned to live on reserve.
The money can also be awarded to the surviving spouse of an eligible First Nations veteran or to the estate of a First Nations veteran if the veteran or surviving spouse passed away one or after February 1, 2000.
Kaliska noted that applications must be received by Veterans Affairs Canada no later than Feb. 15, 2003.
The settlement sizes will depend on the number of qualified veterans that apply. Cheques will be issued by VAC once that number is known.
By applying for the compensation the veteran must also yield future rights to sue the Government of Canada in relation to this matter.
Kaliska expects to have the applications in hand by this week and urges anyone in the district that knows of someone who may qualify to call him at 852-3511 for local help with the forms or to call VAC at 1-800-818-3286.
Veterans do not have to be Legion members to apply or receive help from Kaliska.